Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GG 6501’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by large daisy type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 50 to 55 days of short day length, bi color orange and yellow ray florets, moderate to compact growth habit and a postharvest longevity of an average of 35 days.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum grandiflora ‘GG 6501’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘GG 6501’ is a product of a naturally occurring, single branch mutation of the parent Chrysanthemum plant variety ‘GG 450’ (not patented) which is an undistributed proprietary cultivar. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Leo van Zanten in August 2003 in Oxnard, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘GG 6501’ by terminal cuttings and tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and Carpinteria, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘GG 6501’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GG 6501.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘GG 6501’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Large daisy type inflorescence;     -   2. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 50 to55 days of short day length;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Bi-colored orange/yellow ray florets     -   5. Light green disc coloration

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GG 6501’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, ‘GG 450’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘GG 6501’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Shorter blooming response, the new cultivar blooms         consistently 3 days earlier     -   2. Better color retention of ray florets     -   3. Disc coloration is more green in the new variety     -   4. Better post production longevity     -   5. More branches produced from a pinch

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘Pelee (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,464), ‘GG 6501’ differs in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new cultivar has a shorter blooming response by 5 days     -   2. The new cultivar has a more consistent ray floret coloration         under high light and high temperatures     -   3. The cultivar is shorter by at least 5 cm when grown side by         side.     -   4. The new cultivar produces more branches from a pinch.     -   5. The new cultivar has a distinctive green disc coloration,         which resists changing color with aging of the plant.     -   6. The new cultivar has stronger lateral branches.     -   7. The new cultivar has a more compact plant form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 12 week old plant of ‘GG 6501’ grown in a 6 inch pot. Five cuttings were used in the pot, planted mid August and grown under indoor greenhouse conditions. Day temperatures average 15 to 28 deg. C. and night temperatures average 15 to 18 deg C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘GG 6501’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of August through October 2004. The plants were 12 weeks old. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 18° C. at night to 15° C. to 28° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum grandiflora cultivar ‘GG     6501.’ -   Commercial classification: Pot-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, inverted triangle. -   Height: Approximately 18 to 20 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 22 to 25 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 15. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 60 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 6.7 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 3.8 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137C. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 138B. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Yellow-Green 146B. Venation color under side: Near             Green 137D. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 137C.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             9.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 9 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 35 days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per             inflorescence.—Approximately 350.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Orange-Red 33A.             Upper surface at maturity: Near Orange Red 34A with streaks             of Yellow-Orange 14B. Upper surface at fading: Near Orange             28B with streaks of Yellow-Orange 17C. Upper surface at             first opening: Near Orange-Red 34B with tips streaked with             Yellow-Orange 14B. Under surface at maturity: Near Orange             28A with streaks near Yellow-Orange 15A. Under surface at             fading: Near Orange-Red 30C with streaks near 15B. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 350.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Green 143B. At maturity: Near             Green 143C. At fading: Near Yellow-Green 154B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 4.2 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 6.9 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 137B.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Yellow 6B. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 35.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—0.8 cm.         -   Width.—0.9 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137B. Under side: Near Green             137B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near 15A.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow 7A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.         -   Stigma color.—Near 154A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-Green 154A.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 2A.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow 6A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: The new cultivar has only been     observed under indoor conditions, therefore drought and cold     tolerance have not been observed. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘GG 6501’ as illustrated and described. 